Rocket projector



Feb. 7, 1950 L. A. SKINNER l-:TAL

ROCKET PROJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 22, 1943 all v Q 'mum #ILM M s,

-I-l EDWARD E UHL., my LESLJEAJKINNER, mgmmf/MMM Feb. 7, 1950 L. A. sKlNNER ETAL 2,496,316

ROCKET PROJECTOR Filed sept. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 69 FI. lf2- Patented F eb. 7, k1950 ".G. Uhl, Elizabeth, 'N. J., as'signorslto the .Uite'd :States -of America as represente'dby the Sec- Application; September 22,;1943, Serial No. 503,411

(Granted meer :the actief .March s. Issa, lasy '"7 Claims.

amended April :30, 1928; 37.0 0.,G. 17.57)

Theinventionfdescribedihereinmaybeimanuf-ffacture'd 'and 'use'd 'rby forrori thev Government for :governmental purposes without *the :payment ft us of any -royaltyithereom l This invention relates to atrcltprojecto l'particularly 'to l'an electrically fire'd roke't-progjector.

It is an object ofithis "invention `-to"provide"a 'light weight compact "rocket 'projector capable "of projecting 'a Arocket'oi *substantial :dimensions vand `which 'can l'be `'readily lcarried by a @single individual.

A particular 4'object 'o'fthis finventi'on "isvto jprovide 'an electrical firing system rier "fa .rocket2v projjector which'isnot prilysnnplebut'also extremely reliableinoperation Aiurtlier 'object of thisinvention is*to "provide animproveol sightdrarocket projector.

The specific:natureroftheinvention fas Well as vother Yobjeetsanzl advantages thereof'will"clearlyA i f Fig. 16 `is "ann-'enlarged i longitudinal. sectional Fig. T17 is a .perspectivewvlem #flocking towards the muzzle `o'f the 'zrocketlprojecton f showing A"the Sights alignedin'ring'position "The rocket rprojectorfessentially comprises a long thin ywalledfopenfenitletlfltube orbarrelI-which isproportionedtofreceivearocket. "-Ilielengthfof the tubelis preferablysuiliciently'greaterithan the rocket so that the propellant rfblas't of 'the rocket will "have f substantially ssubside'd about the V.time -the 'rocket "leaves -vthe ttube. The 'rocket iis velectrically 'redrwitliinithe'lprojector by fa source Hfo'f current -lcontained iin the 'butt yStock fof fthe -vproji-z'ctor. which when actuated-:closes Y an ffelectrical "circuit 'thereby =eiecting "discharge-of `the frocket.

-A conventional '-trigger is 4'provided 'ment `as shown thenccompanyingrawings' in which:

Fig. 1 is a 7side 'elevational 'viewto'flthe rocket projector.

Fig. 2 is an .enlarged .fragmentarylongitudinal sectional :View taken vat `4the rear of 'the 'rocket .projector 'to show "details of fthe electrical' vcontact member.

Fig. i3 iis .a vrear :end "elevational view of Fig 2 v`looking muzzlewarddftherocket projector.

Fig. 4 is a detail'side .elevationalview-of tthe 'safety device` .with the cover' thereof removedfin ready position.

Figf5is a view sim'lartoFig. 4 butr'showingithe f :parts of the safety device in'sa'fe position;

Fig. 6 is a top elevational view .o'fFigs 4 'an'clf5.

. Fig. 7 is an enlargedfragmentary"longitudinal 'sectional detail `view 'cifithe 'front .contactplungen Fig. "8 .is arear end elevational'yiew of the .funnel-shapetlguide ring *Shown fin Eig.. J1. Figi!) is a sectional Iview taken along9'-`9 y"of Figfs.

FigflO iis *an enlarged` fragmenten/'longitudinal sectional view of Vfthe"'biitt.stock"'showing v"details "ofthe vsorutceof ''electricirfmirrelit.` Y

"Fig, 1111s anreniargeaeetaii viewmiongirueiiial section :of itlre trigger mechanismz Fig 1"2 'Lis a 'Wiring diagram of. tlieroketgnro- Fig. 13 is aside elevational 'view'xof J'the Vifront 'Fig. '141s a manana-elevational wiewgd'lliig. liig. .15 ispaneelargeiiirear zelvattonal 4,view of Iis particularly l'desiralole for two 4'man "actuation l"of the projector-'as "it 'prevents accidental *discharge of 2tli'erocket.

The rocket `projector Lshown in'fassernbled frelation in Fig.`1 `comprises l-a tube '1, 'a butt `stock "5, and a safety -devia-eil 0. The tube 'il l is preferably vwire guidering'ZPiswelded'to'the rear end of ltube l Aas lshown in Fig. 1,'tof'faci1itate loading of-'a -rocket 3 (Fig. I2) intoftube vfrom'the -rear end land further to'preven't'therear rend of the tube zfrom being closed jbyiabuttingagainst an obj ect.

A springfbiased 'contact rcatch il "is pivotally mounted on ltop "of vtube .I v -and is 'arranged'to 'engage 'the'rearendorocket-S andto'make' electricalconta'ct therewith. A"tail catch 4 is'secured tothe topofthetulce` I'l-atljacent the 'rearfend thereof for positioning `the rocket within the "tube and for completing 'an electrical circuit through the rocket, in a' mannerr to appear. The tail latch ITlg. '-2') comprises an armlpivo'tally mounted in a bracket 'l which-is 'secured to l:the tube and is proviiiel'atd one *end 9 -with a down- Awarclly projecting lug -I asshownin Fig. k3. The y'liottorn edge of`lug H iisgprovided'fwith'van 'arcuate surface I 2 forengaging'anotch .in :the tail --por- "tion of 4the hrocket V3 vfas *schematically `shown cin Fig. "12; *The `arm` i6 is of 'inverted .1U-"shape construction and is gpivotally `mounted 'in'the A'loi- 'furcated bracket 'I'.by 1.a pinl3. A spring Blbe- `tween 'the top o'f tube'. l and'ltlre' underside of'arm '6 biases Athe larcuate endl'2 or arm "G'downwar'dly linto a position -to contact' the rocket 3 `being 'loaded into a 'tube l.

rbyra cover 14. fsaietyirlevice lllcomprises a'ffconscrews 39.

3 tact plunger I5 (Figs. 4 and 5), a lever I6, and two spring I1 mounted on a base 24 secured to the top of the tube I., `Lever I6 is provided with an upwardly curved end I6a which projects somewhat beyond cover I4 so that'it may be grasped by the fingers of an operator in order to be manu-v y n.

ally moved upwardly or downwardly. The other end I8 of lever I6 is curved downwardly and is provided in the end thereof with a transverse pin I9. A small integral rectangular lug is provided on the underside of le'verl I6. rA bifurcated bracket 2l. welded to a suitable base 24, receives ilar cylindrical recess adjacent cylindrical recess 48 may'also be provided. A small hole 5I connects the top of cylindrical recess 48 with the upper edge of butt stock 5 so that a lead wire 52 -can make connection with the positive terbetween its bifurcated portions the lever I6 which y is pivotally mounted on bracket 2l by a pin 22 passed thru lug 20.

Two studs 23 are suitably secured to the rear edge of base 24, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, one on each side of lever I'fnr mounting one end of each of springs I1. The other end of each spring I1 is placed about transverse pin I9. The springs I1 are provided to bias the contact plunger I5 into contact with a rocket 3 in a manner to be described. Contact plunger I5 comprises a pin 25 an insulator 26, and a body 21. Pin 25 is inserted in anpaxial hole 29 provided in the insulator 26 and terminates in a conical point 28 which engages the rocket 3. The insulator 26 is substantially cylindrical and is surrounded by a body 21. The body 21 surrounds the insulator 26. A sloped shoulder 32 is provided near vthe lower end of the body 21 and this sloped end is separated from the end 28 of pin 25 by a suitable insulating washer 33 locked within an annular groove 38 of the pin 25. The upper end ofthe insulator 26 is inserted in a suitable hole near the end I8 of lever I6 and the head of pin 25 is pinned over to secure the plunger assembly I5 to lever I6.

End 28 proiects down4 through a` suitable hole 31 in base 24 of safety device IIl and extends thru the wall of tube I. A stop 35 surrounds body 21 and rests in a square recess 36 about the hole 31. A sloped surface 35a corresponding to sloped surface 32 on'body 21 is provided on the underside of stop 35 to engage sloped surface 32 and arrest the upward movement of plunger I5. Stop 35 is retained in recess 36 by a suitable washer 38 which is in turn secured to base 24 by the When the end I 6a of lever I6 is in the raised position asV shown Vin Fig. 4, the pin I9 is below the horizontalaxis of pin 22 which mounts lever I6 and hencethe bias of springs I1 will keep the lever I6 in this position until forcibly moved to another position. When the end Ilia of lever I6 isA depressed, the end I9 of lever I6 rises above the horizontal axis of pin 22 thereby raising plunger l5 out of contact with rocket 3. When pin I9` is above the horizontal axis of pin 22, the bias of springs I1 will hold the lever in this position.

The butt stock 5 is mounted on the underside v of tube I approximately inthe center thereof and is suitably secured thereto. An arcuately c shaped end 48 is provided to comfortably lit the shoulder of the operator. The bottom 4I of shoulder stock 5 is substantially .parallel to barrel tube I. Butt stock 5 is sloped upwardly from the bottom 4i to meet barrel tube I. yA hinged floor plate 42 whichfis a thin sheet metal member is mounted on the flat bottom portion 4I of shoulder stock 5. The stationary end 43 of hinged floor plate 42 is mounted on the sloped surface of shoulder stock 5 and is secured thereto .by a screw 44.j ,A4 recess 45 is providedin the lower end of shoulderl stock 5 to house aconminal of battery 49. A hole 53 parallel to hole 5I is provided so that a lead wire 54 may be brought/into contact with the negative terminal of battery 49. A small light bulb 55 is mounted in a suitable socket 55a on theside of shoulder stock 5 in the forward upper portion thereof. `A diagonal hole 56 is provided in stock 5 which communicates with the socket 55a and the upper edge of Stock 5 so that suitable wires may be led to the. light bulb socket. Light bulb 55 is utilized as a warningsignal so that the operator may know whether the firing -circuit is'open or closed. f

A .pistol grip 51.15 mounted somewhat ahead of shoulder stock 5 on the underside of tube I and is suitablysecured thereto. Pistol grip 51 is provided with a recess 58 as shown in Fig. 11 in which is mounted a triggerswitch 60. The switch 60 comprises a small rectangular member 59 of suitable electrical insulating material mounted on a transverse screw.- A contact spring 6I is mounted onv the forward side of member 59 and'is secured thereto -by a pin 62. Two terminals 63 and 64 are provided at each end of member 59, pin 62 terminating in terminal 63. Spring 6I is `arranged to be depressed by a trigger Awhich vis pivotally mounted at its upper end in recess 58 of pistol grip 51 by a transverse pin 66. When trigger 65 is depressed Y the free end of spring 6I. is likewise depressed which contacts terminal 64 thereby making electrical contact. Trigger 65 is protected against accidental discharge by a suitably shaped trigger guard61.

The electrical circuit vis shown in Fig. l2. The battery 48 is connected inseries with the trigger switch 60 and rocket contacts 4 and I5.` It will be understood that `suitable cylindrical ccntact plates are provided on `the rocket 3 at the points of engagement with contacts 4 and I5 and that wiring connections are provided within rocket 3 to any desired form of electrical primer Warning light 55 is connected across contacts 4 and` I5 and Will be ignited by closing of triggery switch 60 indicating that the circuit is in firing condition. u

A front sight 68 is mounted on the muzzle end of tube I as shown in Figs. 1, 14, and 1'7. The front sight 68 comprisesA a rectangular shaped vmember 69, twofront sight blade brackets 10 and a web 1I. The brackets 10 are narrow rectangular strips welded at each end to the rectangular memberI 69 as` shown in Fig. 14 and are parallel to each other and so spaced that they will snugly engage each side of barrel tube I. The Web 1I is placed between and is welded to brackets 10. L-shaped sight blades 12 are welded to each of brackets 10 between brackets 10 and the sides of rectangular member 69. Blades .12 are so spaced as to permit different elevations of sight to be obtained for 4.varying ranges. Sight blades 12 are provided yon eachof ybrackets. 10 so` that a. right or left hand rer 'can be accommodated. Front sight 68 is placed over and welded to' barrel am zo .tube at thepoints .ofi.contact.ofrtheftmekets .'10, web y1I, vand one side of rectangular member 69, as .sl-lown in Fig. '14.

A rear sight 13 has-a sighting .armfl'l img ll mounted on a circular basememberi-IS Welded tothe top of tube I slightly ahead of pistolgrip 51. A headed pin I6 l.is vertically '.mountediin inverted position in 'the center `of Vibase f 1.5-, as shown in Fig. 16. Sighting arm '14 isWeldedfi/o a tubular member TI, one end of which .is-closed and provided with an axial hole 158 for mounting the member 'I'Il on'pin 16. Within the tubular member 'ITI and about pin 16 is a spring 'I9 which rests upon the closed end of the v3member. ill. Spring 79 is retained Within"member 'l1 'by-fifa Washer v8l) secured 'by' va transverse pin-BI insertedv in a suitable hole in pin '16. Spaoed integral V-shaped projections 8-2 `are provided pn tbase -1'5 i which engage corresponding `Vshaped notches-83 in the base of tubular member I'I for Iretaining the sighting member I4 in any of four .selected positions. The spring 'I9 biases tubular. member `I4 into engagement with each offtheprojection's 82. A substantially U-s'haped sighting notch'l is provided in the arm 14. The sighting army I.

may be readily pivoted to the right orto the-left sothat a right or left hand 'shooterf-can readily and conveniently align the sighting arm with either ofthe iront sight blades T2. Sighting-arm 1B may be swung into a lposition parallel with tube l, as shown in Fig. 1, Whenfcarrying the Weapon. A foregrip 85, suitably secured 'ahead of pistol lgrip 51 to the underside ofY tube I; may be provided to facilitate holding and aiming the rocket projector.

The rocket 3 is loaded into tube VI from the rear, the funnel shaped guide 2 serving to guide the rocket into the tube.` Loadingis'gvenerally done byA personnel other than `the irerr of the projector. Prior to insertion of rocket-3 into'f-tube VAI', the end I-Sa 'of lever I6 of safety devicerId is `de;- pressed by the loader to the safe position as shown in Fig. 5.' This brings'plunger I5 out of the tube and prevents. contact. with the inserted rocket. Rear Contact# of course'isalso raised to permit r.insertion of the rocket' intoftube In When rocket 3 has been fully inserted, .contact 4. vrei-- leased and engagesy the rear. vend ofrocket 3 making electrical contact therewith. Toflr'e a rocket, the projector is held by a rer in much tlresame manner as ring a rifle or 'othershoulder arm. Sighting is accomplished by;'alig`nment 'of'. rear sight notch B4. and an. appropriate arcoi the front sight blades I2 depending'on the range of fthe target. Prior .to discharging theprojector however, lever I6 is raised to the ready Aorflring position. This is generally done by tliel'oader `when he has taken position beside the rocket 'projector, safe from the blast of the rocken'. This brings plunger I5 into contactwith the.. forward end of rocket 3. When trigger-'551s pulledpspring 6I contacts terminal 64 thereby closingathe'v electrical circuit and eiectingzdi'scharge of the rocket. Light 55 remains. lit as long as trigger 65 is pulled.

From the .foregoing description, it is readilyjrapi parent that a Weapon ci the typeaboveideseribed llt said .tube adiacentzone ofi'said' .ends 4and .adapted toienga'ge'the rocketltohld thesame from falling but of said 'tube; g'a guide `structure proj ect-'- ingrearwardlyandloutwardlyfrom said. tube adp jacent said latch tofacilitate loadingof'said. proector', "said guide". v'stru'ctixre comprising. spaced wire-.like;:members, fa lshoulder stock secured to said tube lintermediate. the ends thereof, a pistol `grip on :said tube longitudinally spaced from said shoulder-.stocke trigger mechanism mounted in said-pistol-sgrip, 4'an'dn'leans actuated by said trigger for tiringa rocket inserted in said tube. f. :2.A.,portable rocket projector comprising an extended Ahollow tube` open at .both ends and adaptedcto:"receive a rocket therein through one ofi saidf'ends-a fshoulderstock secured to said Stube intermediate thez'ends thereof, a pistol grip onfsaidutube longitudinally spaced thereon from 'said .'shonlderqzstocm a first electrical contact pirotably'fconnected on said tube, a second electricalcontact spaced fromthe :same and .mounted onfsaid tube. but electrically insulated therefrom, said: .contactsbeing adapted to' eiect electrical `r.orlneotion :'Wth .a .rocket inserted in said tube, fsaid. shoulder `stock having. a recess arranged to receive a battery, atrigger mechanism mounted in.- sa'rd pistol gripf,-an electricalfswitch means mounted inv said pistol grip and normally heldin anopen position..saidelectrical switch means -being arranged adjacent said trigger mechanism for actuation'thereby to a closed position and electri'calconnect-ions'. arranged to apply a voltage from the battery to lsaid first electrical' and said second electrical contacts through said electrical switch.

A 3.1A portable rocket projector :comprising an extended-hollow tube' 4open at both ends,- and adapted toreceive'a :rocket therein through one of .said endarsa shoulder. 'stock secured to said tube intermediate: the. ends thereof, a pistol grip on said tube'longitudinally spaced thereon from said 'shoulder Estock, .azrst electrical contact pivotablyponnected fon said tube, a second electrical contact.spaced from the same and mounted lToric-'said tube. 'but electrically insulated from the same',z.said electricalcontacts being adapted to effect elec'ztrical.'connection with a rocket inserted imsaid; tube,I ysaid stock.- havingy a recess' arranged to receive a battery, a trigger mechanism mounted-in `.said pistoll grip. Van electrical switch means .mounted in said pistolfg-rip and normally held; in-an.' open position, said switchv being arranged adi'acent'zsaid'. trigger mechanism for actuation: therebyV :to a rclosed' position, electrical :connection-s.' arranged .to apply a voltage from the-.battery'to saidrst electrical and said second electr-ical contactsV through said lelectrical indicating: .meansxin' f the f shoulder. stock and electrically. connected in parallel with said contacts andxzresponsive toftlreenergization of the same whereby open and closed, positionsof the trigger mechanismare indicated. f

'd A portable rocket..projector comprising an extended :hollowftube open vat both ends and adaptedto receive fa rocketrtherein through one "of, saidze'ndm aeshould'er stock. Lfsecured to said tube intermediatesthesends' thereof, .a pistol grip on said tube longitudinally spaced thereon from said shoulder stock, a springpressed latch mounted on the rear of said tube arranged to effect electrical connection with a rocket inserted in said tube and to releasably retain said rocket in said tube, an electrical contact spaced from said latch, support means movably mounting the same on said tube but insulated therefrom for .amaai-c movement through the wallsfthereoffsspring means associated with lsaidsupport means'lfor moving said electrical contact through the walls of said tube to eiect electrical `connection with the said rocket inserted in Said tube, said shoulder stock having a recess arranged to receive a. battery, a trigger mechanisnrmounted in said pistol grip, an electrical switchimeans-mounted in said pistol grip and normally'heldin an open position, said electrical switch means :being adjacent said trigger mechanism and arranged t0 be closed by actuation ofthe same and electrical connections arranged to apply a voltage from the battery across said latch and said electrical contact through said electrical switch means.-

5. A portable rocket projector comprising an extended hollow tube open at both ends and 'adapted to receive a rocket therein through one of said ends, a shoulder stock secured to said tube intermediate the ends thereof, a pistol grip on said tube longitudinally spaced thereon from said shoulder stock, a spring pressed latch mounted on the rear of said tube arranged to eiect elec-- trical connection with `a rocket inserted-in` said tube and to releasably retain said rocket in the tube, an electrical contact spaced from said latch', support means movably mounting the same on said tube but insulated therefrom for movement through the walls thereof, spring means associated with said support meansffor moving electrical contact through the walls of said tube and arranged to effect electrical connection with the said rocket inserted in saidtube, said shoulder stock having a recess arranged to receivea battery, a trigger mechanism mounted in said pistol grip, an electrical switch means mounted in said pistolgrip and normally held in an open position, said electrical switch means being adjacent said trigger mechanism and arranged to be closed by actuation of the same, electrical conand electrically connected in yparallelwith said latch and said electrical contact andresponsive to the energization of the same rwhereby open and closed positions of the trigger mechanism are indicated. f

6. A portable rocket projector comprising an extended hollow tube openy at both ends and adapted to receive a rocket thereinnthrough one of said ends, a shoulder stock secured to said tube intermediate the ends thereof, a pistol grip on said tube longitudinally spaced thereon from said shoulder stock, a sprin-g pressed latch mounted on the rear of'said tube arranged to eiect electrical connection with said rocket` inserted in said tube and to releasably retain said rocket in said tube, an electrical contact, means pivotally mounting the same, on said tube, a manually operable member connected-to .said pivot means, resilient .means connected to said pivot means and arranged to snap said electrical contact into and out of engagement with the said rocket inserted in said tube, said shoulder stock having a recess arranged to receive'ka bat'v ztery, :a .triggermechanism 4mounted in said pistol grip, an electrical switch means mounted in said pistol grip and normally held in an open position, said'switch means being adjacent said trigger` mechanism and arranged to be closedby actuation of the same and electrical connections arranged to apply a Voltage from the battery to said latch and said electrical contact through said electrical switch means. i

, '7.,A portable rocket projector comprising an extended hollow tube open at both ends and adapted to receivea rocket therein through one of said ends, a shoulder stock secured to said tube intermediate the ends thereof, a pistol grip on said'tube longitudinally spaced thereon from said shoulder stock, a spring pressed latch mounted on .the rear of said tube arranged to pivot means, resilient means connected to said pivot means and arrangedA to snap said electrical contact into and out of engagement with the said rocket inserted in said tube, said stock havving a recess arranged to receive a battery, a trigger mechanismmounted in said pistol grip, an electricalv switch means mounted in said pistol grip and normally held in an open position, said switch meansv beingadjacent said trigger mechanism and arranged to be closed by actuation of the same, electrical connections arranged to apply a voltage from the battery to said latch and said electrical contact through said electrical switch means, and electrical indicating .means in the shoulder stock and electrically connectedin parallel with Said latch and said electrical contact and'responsive to the energization of the latch and contact whereby open and closed positions of the trigger mechanism are indicated. LESLIE A. SKINNER.

EDWARD G. UHL.

'REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

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